Tent



Nov. 21, 1950 R. T. GREENUP TENT Filgd'March 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 90V 7. GEEENUP Ja Nov. '21, 1950 R. T. GREENUP TENT Filed March 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ROY G EEE/VU Patented Nov. 21, 1950 TENT Roy T. Greenup, Quilcene, Wash., assignor of onehalf to H. Sanford Saari, Tacoma, Wash.

Application March 5, 1948, Serial No. 13,167

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in what are generally referred to as tents, and has reference more particularly to provision of a novel, collapsible frame structure for a tent of a type that is especially adapted to the uses of bathers and campers, and for other general uses.

. It is the principal object of my invention to provide a collapsible frame structure for supporting a tent, and which structure is free of any central supporting leg, or structural member that would interfere with freedom of use of the entire enclosed area.

' Still another object of my invention is to provide a tent-supporting structure that may be easily, readily and quickly collapsed to a compact bundle for convenient storage, and likewise, may be easily and readily erected.

Other objects of the invention reside in th details of construction of the various parts of the frame structure, intheir combination, relationship and mode of use as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a tent that is supported by means of a collapsible frame structure embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tent.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged vertical section of the tent-supporting structure as seen on line 33 in Fig. 2, the tent top and side walls being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3a is an enlarged detail of parts of the frame structure.

. Fig. 4 is an enlarged top view of the central hub member and one of the radial frames of the top structure.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5a is an enlarged detail of the locking means for the telescoped hub portion of the top frame.

Fig. 6 is a view, showing in enlarged scale, cross-sectional sizes and relationships of parts of the radial frame, as taken on line 6-45 in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail, partl in section, of connected sections of a supporting leg.

Fig. 8 is a side view of one of the leg-securing clips.

Fig. 9 shows parts 'of the top frame structure,

and supporting legs at diametrically opposite sides, the lower section of one of the legs being detached as for collapsing the frame.

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a partial collapsing of one of the radial frames of the top structure.

Fig. 11 is a View illustrating the final collapsing movement of the top structure and upper portions of the supporting legs.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- The collapsible tent-supporting frame will be best understood by reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 9, wherein it has been disclosed as comprising an umbrella-like top structure having a central, vertical hub member from which six radial frames extend, at equal angular intervals. At their outer ends the radial frames are equipped with legs, or posts, for the functional support of the top structure and to define the limits of the side walls of the tent. A more or less number of these radial frames might be used if it should be so desired, and each would be equipped with a supporting leg; however, six frames have been found quite satisfactory.

First describing the hub member of the top structure as seen in Figs. 3, 5 and 9: This comprises telescopically associated inner and outer tubular members I 0 and H, substantially of the same length. To the upper end of the outer member there is fixed a collar l2, equipped with six equally spaced pairs of projecting ears l3, see

. Fig. 4, between each pair of which the top member of one of the radial frames is pivotally fixed, as presently explained. Likewise, fixed to the lower end of the inner member is a collar 15 with six sets of equally spaced pairs of ears IE to each pair of which the lower member of one of the radial frames is pivotally fixed.

When the parts It! and II are in their assembled relationship, as in Fig. 5 or 9, the tube l0 extends within the tube II to near its upper end and the lower end of tube H engages against the collar I5 as a stop. A latch normally holds the parts in this assembled relationship.

The latch, as noted best in Fig. 5a, comprises a split collar I! that is applied about and fixed to the outer tube H. Extended downwardly from the collar is a spring finger 18 that lies along the side of the tube and at its end has an inwardly extending stud l9 thereon. This stud projects through registering holes 20 and H in the parts I 0 and I l to hold them against separation.

Each of the radial frame members of the top structure comprises a top chord that is made up of two lengths of channel iron, 22 and 22a, joined by a hinge 23, as seen best in Fig. 5. The part 22 is pivoted at what would be its inner end, by a pin 24, between paired ears l3l3 on the hub collar I2. The outer end of the part 22a is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the legs, as will presently be fully explained.

Each radial frame also comprises a lower chord 26 comprising a single straight piece of channel iron pivotally attached at its inner end by a pivot pin- 21 to one of the pairs of ears It on the collar l and at its outer end is pivotally attached by a pivot bolt 28 to the member 2211 of the corresponding radial frame at a point about midway of the ends of the member 22a.

Also, there is a brace member 30 for each radial frame comprising a single piece of channel iron which at one end is fixed to collar l5 by the same pin 27 that attaches the corresponding part 26 to the collar it and at its other end is pivoted as at 33 in Fig. 5 to the outer end of the part V in Fig. 10, permitting each of the radial frames to i be collapsed. In this collapsing action, the parts 22 and 22a of each radial frame fold together in a vertical plane, by reason of their hinged connection, passing from the position shown in Fig. 5, through the positions of Figs. 10 and 11,

wherein the parts 22 and 38 come into a straight line and are received within the member 23.

It will be explained here, with reference to the showing of parts in Fig. 6, that the lower chord 250i the radial frame is of channel form and is faced upwardly, while the parts 22, 22a and 3!! also are of channel form, and are fixed downwardly. The transverse dimensions of these parts are such that the part 22a may be contained within the part 23 and also that part 39 may be collapsed within part it, as indicated in Fig. 11.

When all the radial frames of the top structure are thus collapsed, all parts are substantially parallel and compactly assembled, and the parts comprising the various radial frames are equally spaced about the hub portions.

Each of the supporting legs for the top structure comprises upper and lower sections 49 and 43a. These are tubular in form and the lower end of section may be telescopically received in the upper end of part 4| as shown in Fig. 7, and when so assembled, the parts may be locked together by spring latch member like that which is associated with the hub, and which comprises a split collar 45 from which a spring finger 46 extends along the outer leg member. This finger has a stud 48 at its end adapted to be extended through registering holes 49 and 58 in the telescoped portions of the leg.

The upper end portions of the upper sections of the legs are equipped with angular brackets 52, and these have angularly directed bifurcated portions 53 between which the outer end portions of the sections 22a of the radial frames are pivoted by bolts 54. When the legs are in vertical supporting position, the bracket, by contact with the frame member 22a, as in Fig. 5, serves to limit the outward swinging of the lower end portions of the legs relative to the radial frames. When tions of the legs swing inwardly and to the position shown in Fig. 11. Then, the lower portions llla of the legs may be detached and assembled coextensively with the collapsed members of the frame, or the lower sections may be telescoped upwardly along the upper sections to their full length.

From a collapsed condition, the tent structure may be easily and readily erected by extending all radial frames and then extending the telescoped leg sections to supporting positions.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have indicated the tent as having a side wall portion 68 which may be in the form of a continuous strip of canvas, equipped with suitable means such as hooks or common types of snap fasteners, as at 61 in Fig. 3a, whereby it may be attached to the upper ends of the leg portions for support. Also, the tent, in this case, has a hexagonal top portion 62 which may be applied over the top frame structure with its marginal flap 63 overhanging the top edges of the side wall structure and secured where necessary with ties, snap fasteners or other suitable means as at 64 in Fig. 3a.

In collapsing the tent structure, the top and side wall portions 60 and 62 may, if desired, be removed, but generally would be collapsed'with andfolded into the collapsed parts of the structure. It is desirable, also, that the bracket parts 52 be equipped with eyelets 65 for the attachment of guy ropes, should this be found necessary or desirable.

Tents of this character are especially desirable for use by campers, tourists and at the bathing beach, and may be made in sizes that best suit any particular use. The frame structure may be made of light metal such as aluminum, and in ordinar sizes would be easy to carry, The tent structure may be folded and wrapped about the collapsed frame structure, and all tied together in a compact bundle for easy storage and transportation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. In a tent of the character described, a collapsible top frame structure including a central, vertical hub member comprising relatively short teiescopicaliy assembled, separable upper and lower sections, a releasable latch means for securing said sections in assembled relationship, a plurality of ribs with inner ends pivotally attached to the upper section of said hub member and radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom; each rib comprising inner and outer end portions, hinged together end to end to break downwardly at the joint in collapsing the top frame structure, two braces for each of the ribs, each being pivotally fixed at its inner end to the lower end portion of the lower section of the central hub member, one being pivoted at its outer end to the lower end portion of the rib beyond the hinged connection and the other being pivoted to the rib above the hinge; said central hub member terminating above the level of the outer ends of the ribs when extended; said outer portions of said ribs being adapted to be folded back upon the inner end portions and all ribs and braces bein adapted to be brought substantially together and in parallel relationship upon disconnection and separation of the sections of the central hub member.

2. A collapsible structure as in claim 1 includa ing also supporting legs hingedly attached to 2,530,765 5 6 the outer end portions of each of the radial ribs REFERENCES CITED for limited outward swinging of the legs; a The following references are of record in the legs each comprising telescopically collapsible me of this patent: sections, and being pivotally attached to permit it to be folded into parallel relationship with 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS the parts of the collapsed top structure. Numb r Name Dat 433,733 James Aug. 5, 1890 T. GREENUP- 1,449,894 Dial Mar. 27, 1923 

